# What is the @ symbol called?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-symbol-called/307388>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 8, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-symbol-called/307388 "2005-06-08T01:45:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-symbol-called/307388/41 "2005-06-09T04:02:16Z")

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In the game NetHack, “@” could represent any of the following: a generic human being, shopkeepers, the Wizard of Yendor or the player character.

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**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-symbol-called/307388/42 "2005-06-09T16:58:27Z")

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Additional information on the @, (at sign), &, (ampersand), and a number of other characters can be found in the old thread [Name That Symbol](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=145448) (although several of the posts must be taken with a large heaping of salt).

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